All 50 states were broken into three different groups by type of primary:<ref name=NCSL>[http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/primary-types.aspx ''National Conference of State Legislatures Website'', "State Primary Election Types," accessed January 3, 2014]</ref>

All 50 states were broken into three different groups by type of primary:<ref name=NCSL>[http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/primary-types.aspx ''National Conference of State Legislatures Website'', "State Primary Election Types," accessed January 3, 2014]</ref>

*12 states use a [[closed primary]] system, allowing only officially recognized political parties and their registered voters access

*12 states use a [[closed primary]] system, allowing only officially recognized political parties and their registered voters access

−

*13 states have an [[open primary]] system, which allows voters of any party to vote for any candidate they choose

+

*14 states have an [[open primary]] system, which allows voters of any party to vote for any candidate they choose

*3 states have a [[blanket primary]], or top-two system, which allows all candidates to run and all voters to vote but only moves the top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, to the general election

*3 states have a [[blanket primary]], or top-two system, which allows all candidates to run and all voters to vote but only moves the top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, to the general election

**[[Arizona elections, 2014|Arizona]]: The primary is considered semi-closed. Unaffiliated voters may choose which party's primary they will vote in, but voters registered with a party can only vote in that party's primary.<ref name=fairvote>[http://www.fairvote.org/congressional-and-presidential-primaries-open-closed-semi-closed-and-top-two#.UsWp4GRDs0M ''Fair Vote'', "Congressional and Presidential Primaries: Open, Closed, Semi-Closed, and 'Top Two,'" accessed January 2, 2014]</ref>

**[[Arizona elections, 2014|Arizona]]: The primary is considered semi-closed. Unaffiliated voters may choose which party's primary they will vote in, but voters registered with a party can only vote in that party's primary.<ref name=fairvote>[http://www.fairvote.org/congressional-and-presidential-primaries-open-closed-semi-closed-and-top-two#.UsWp4GRDs0M ''Fair Vote'', "Congressional and Presidential Primaries: Open, Closed, Semi-Closed, and 'Top Two,'" accessed January 2, 2014]</ref>

−

**[[Colorado elections, 2014|Colorado]]: The primary is considered closed, but unaffiliated voters may choose to affiliate with a party on election day in order to vote.<ref>[http://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/colorado/ ''Colorado Revised Statutes'', "Title 1, Article 7, Section 201, Voting at primary election," accessed January 2, 2014]</ref>

+

**[[Colorado elections, 2014|Colorado]]: The primary is considered closed, but unaffiliated voters may choose to affiliate with a party on Election Day in order to vote.<ref>[http://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/colorado/ ''Colorado Revised Statutes'', "Title 1, Article 7, Section 201, Voting at primary election," accessed January 2, 2014]</ref>

**[[Connecticut elections, 2014|Connecticut]]: Though parties decide who may vote in their primary election, the primary is considered closed as neither the [[Democratic Party|Democratic Party]] nor the [[Republican Party]] allows any voter but those registered with their party to vote.<ref name=fairvote/>

**[[Connecticut elections, 2014|Connecticut]]: Though parties decide who may vote in their primary election, the primary is considered closed as neither the [[Democratic Party|Democratic Party]] nor the [[Republican Party]] allows any voter but those registered with their party to vote.<ref name=fairvote/>

**[[Idaho elections, 2014|Idaho]]: Parties decide who may vote. The [[Democratic Party|Democratic Party]] allows unaffiliated voters to vote in their primary. The [[Republican Party]] allows only voters registered with their party. Unaffiliated voters can choose to affiliate with a party on election day, but they will be bound to that party at the next election as well.<ref name=fairvote/>

**[[Idaho elections, 2014|Idaho]]: Parties decide who may vote. The [[Democratic Party|Democratic Party]] allows unaffiliated voters to vote in their primary. The [[Republican Party]] allows only voters registered with their party. Unaffiliated voters can choose to affiliate with a party on election day, but they will be bound to that party at the next election as well.<ref name=fairvote/>

Line 22:

Line 22:

**[[Nebraska elections, 2014|Nebraska]]: A [[blanket primary]] system is used for the nonpartisan legislature and some other statewide races.<ref name=NCSL/>

**[[Nebraska elections, 2014|Nebraska]]: A [[blanket primary]] system is used for the nonpartisan legislature and some other statewide races.<ref name=NCSL/>

**[[New Hampshire elections, 2014|New Hampshire]]: Unaffiliated voters may vote in the primary, but in order to so they have to choose a party before voting. This changes their status from unaffiliated to affiliated with that party, unless they fill out a card to return to undeclared status.<ref>[http://sos.nh.gov/RegVote.aspx ''New Hampshire Secretary of State Website'', "How to Register to Vote in New Hampshire," accessed January 3, 2014]</ref>

**[[New Hampshire elections, 2014|New Hampshire]]: Unaffiliated voters may vote in the primary, but in order to so they have to choose a party before voting. This changes their status from unaffiliated to affiliated with that party, unless they fill out a card to return to undeclared status.<ref>[http://sos.nh.gov/RegVote.aspx ''New Hampshire Secretary of State Website'', "How to Register to Vote in New Hampshire," accessed January 3, 2014]</ref>

−

**[[North Carolina elections, 2014|North Carolina]]: Parties decide who may vote, and they opened the primary election to unaffiliated voters. They may choose which ballot they want to vote on without affecting their unaffiliated status.<ref>[http://ncelectionconnection.com/who-can-vote/#four ''NC Election Connection'', "Who Can Vote in Which Elections?" Accessed January 3, 2014]<ref>

+

**[[North Carolina elections, 2014|North Carolina]]: Parties decide who may vote, and they opened the primary election to unaffiliated voters. They may choose which ballot they want to vote on without affecting their unaffiliated status.<ref>[http://ncelectionconnection.com/who-can-vote/#four ''NC Election Connection'', "Who Can Vote in Which Elections?" accessed January 3, 2014]<ref>

**[[Ohio elections, 2014|Ohio]]: Only affiliated voters can vote for candidates in the primary election; however, voters do not choose their affiliation until election day, when they request a party's ballot.<ref>[http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/elections/Voters/FAQ/genFAQs.aspx ''Ohio Secretary of State Website'', "Frequently Asked Questions about General Voting and Voter Registration," accessed January 3, 2014]</ref>

**[[Ohio elections, 2014|Ohio]]: Only affiliated voters can vote for candidates in the primary election; however, voters do not choose their affiliation until election day, when they request a party's ballot.<ref>[http://www.sos.state.oh.us/sos/elections/Voters/FAQ/genFAQs.aspx ''Ohio Secretary of State Website'', "Frequently Asked Questions about General Voting and Voter Registration," accessed January 3, 2014]</ref>

**[[Oklahoma elections, 2014|Oklahoma]]: Parties decide who may vote, so an unaffiliated voter must be authorized by a party in order to vote in the primary.<ref>[http://www.ok.gov/elections/Voter_Registration/index.html ''Oklahoma State Election Board Website'', "Voter Registration in Oklahoma," accessed January 3, 2014]</ref>

**[[Oklahoma elections, 2014|Oklahoma]]: Parties decide who may vote, so an unaffiliated voter must be authorized by a party in order to vote in the primary.<ref>[http://www.ok.gov/elections/Voter_Registration/index.html ''Oklahoma State Election Board Website'', "Voter Registration in Oklahoma," accessed January 3, 2014]</ref>

−

**[[Rhode Island elections, 2014|Rhode Island]]: Unaffiliated voters may vote in a party's primary, but they will then be considered affiliated with that party. In order to disaffiliate, they must file a "Change of Party Designation" form.<ref>[http://www.elections.state.ri.us/faq/#deadline ''Rhode Island Board of Elections Website'', "Frequently Asked Questions," Accessed January 3, 2014]</ref>

+

**[[Rhode Island elections, 2014|Rhode Island]]: Unaffiliated voters may vote in a party's primary, but they will then be considered affiliated with that party. In order to disaffiliate, they must file a "Change of Party Designation" form.<ref>[http://www.elections.state.ri.us/faq/#deadline ''Rhode Island Board of Elections Website'', "Frequently Asked Questions," accessed January 3, 2014]</ref>

−

**[[South Dakota elections, 2014|South Dakota]]: Parties decide who may vote. Registered Democrats and unaffiliated voters may vote in the Democratic primary. Only registered Republicans may vote in the Republican primary.<ref>[http://sdsos.gov/content/viewcontent.aspx?cat=elections&pg=/elections/registrationvoting.shtm ''South Dakota Secretary of State Website'', "Registration & Voting," Accessed January 3,2014]</ref>

+

**[[South Dakota elections, 2014|South Dakota]]: Parties decide who may vote. Registered Democrats and unaffiliated voters may vote in the Democratic primary. Only registered Republicans may vote in the Republican primary.<ref>[http://sdsos.gov/content/viewcontent.aspx?cat=elections&pg=/elections/registrationvoting.shtm ''South Dakota Secretary of State Website'', "Registration & Voting," accessed January 3,2014]</ref>

−

**[[Texas elections, 2014|Texas]]: Voters do not have to register with a party. At the primary, they may choose which party primary ballot to vote on, but in order to vote they must sign a pledge declaring they will not vote in another party's primary or convention that year.<ref name=fairvote/><ref>[http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/txstatutes/EL/10/B/172/D/172.086 ''Texas Statutes'', "Section 172.086," Accessed January 3, 2014]</ref>

+

**[[Texas elections, 2014|Texas]]: Voters do not have to register with a party. At the primary, they may choose which party primary ballot to vote on, but in order to vote they must sign a pledge declaring they will not vote in another party's primary or convention that year.<ref name=fairvote/><ref>[http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/txstatutes/EL/10/B/172/D/172.086 ''Texas Statutes'', "Section 172.086," accessed January 3, 2014]</ref>

Contents

The primary dates below refer to when candidates are on the ballot for Congressional, State Executive or State Legislative office. They may not relate to municipal or school board primaries unless that primary occurs on the same day as the statewide primary.

State-by-state breakdown

All 50 states were broken into three different groups by type of primary:[1]

12 states use a closed primary system, allowing only officially recognized political parties and their registered voters access

14 states have an open primary system, which allows voters of any party to vote for any candidate they choose

3 states have a blanket primary, or top-two system, which allows all candidates to run and all voters to vote but only moves the top two vote-getters, regardless of party affiliation, to the general election

Arizona: The primary is considered semi-closed. Unaffiliated voters may choose which party's primary they will vote in, but voters registered with a party can only vote in that party's primary.[3]

Colorado: The primary is considered closed, but unaffiliated voters may choose to affiliate with a party on Election Day in order to vote.[4]

Connecticut: Though parties decide who may vote in their primary election, the primary is considered closed as neither the Democratic Party nor the Republican Party allows any voter but those registered with their party to vote.[3]

Idaho: Parties decide who may vote. The Democratic Party allows unaffiliated voters to vote in their primary. The Republican Party allows only voters registered with their party. Unaffiliated voters can choose to affiliate with a party on election day, but they will be bound to that party at the next election as well.[3]

Illinois: Voters do not have to register with a party, but they do have to choose, publicly, which party's ballot they will vote on at the primary election.[5]

Indiana: Voters are not required to register with a party, but the ballot they get depends on their voting history, which party they have voted for most in the past.[6]

Iowa: The primary is closed, but voters are allowed to change their political party affiliation on election day.[7]

Maryland: Parties decide who may vote in their primary election and generally close it to all voters except those registered with their party.[8]

Massachusetts: Unaffiliated voters are allowed to vote in the primary election. They may choose which party ballot they wish to vote on and still remain unaffiliated.[9]

Mississippi: Voters do not have to register with a party, but they must intend to support the party nominations if they vote in the primary election.[10]

New Hampshire: Unaffiliated voters may vote in the primary, but in order to so they have to choose a party before voting. This changes their status from unaffiliated to affiliated with that party, unless they fill out a card to return to undeclared status.[11]

North Carolina: Parties decide who may vote, and they opened the primary election to unaffiliated voters. They may choose which ballot they want to vote on without affecting their unaffiliated status.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag

Oklahoma: Parties decide who may vote, so an unaffiliated voter must be authorized by a party in order to vote in the primary.[12]

Rhode Island: Unaffiliated voters may vote in a party's primary, but they will then be considered affiliated with that party. In order to disaffiliate, they must file a "Change of Party Designation" form.[13]

South Dakota: Parties decide who may vote. Registered Democrats and unaffiliated voters may vote in the Democratic primary. Only registered Republicans may vote in the Republican primary.[14]

Texas: Voters do not have to register with a party. At the primary, they may choose which party primary ballot to vote on, but in order to vote they must sign a pledge declaring they will not vote in another party's primary or convention that year.[3][15]

Utah: Parties decide who may vote. Registered Democrats and unaffiliated voters may vote in the Democratic primary. Only registered Republicans can vote in the Republican primary.[16]

West Virginia: Parties decide who may vote. Both parties allow unaffiliated voters to vote in their primaries.[3]